Back in the beginning, there was the Orange Box. Everyone that is a true gamer knows what was in it and how awesome a deal it was, plus what it brought to the world. I was one of the many that bought it for the PC and even for the 360, though it wasn't that great on the 360 in the end. None the less, there was a little gem in it called Team Fortress 2. It was fun, fast, and a great PVP FPS game that filled the void at the time for many out there. Fast forward to when it started to go into the free to play market and just before the micro transactions came into the play. I loved it. I had a blast! I would try to get the achievements unlocked because that meant different weapons and items to use. But then it started to change too much. New achievements, new tiers of what-have you to reach to unlock or get items, then they made it where things were randomly dropped, but never know what or when and usually was crap. Then hat simulator and crates and keys came about. Then the masses of free to play and micro-transactions flooded the game. And with all that, TF2 turned into an extreme fast pace shoot and die in a blink of an eye game that seems to mimic quake arena and unreal tournament. No real strategy, all catering to cosmetic crazed twitch minded crack head MLG gamers. There was some hope, the Mann vs Machine update came out and it reignited my interest, but that too soon faded. Sadly, all that I enjoy out of TF2 anymore is the SFM's that people make and the MLP SFM's that people put out there.

I honestly don't have the ability to keep pace with the speed and skills of the people that play TF2 anymore, and I certainly don't have the items and weapons and other crazy additions everyone else has in their inventory that are far better, more powerful, faster, and of course prettier than the default starter items. It does sadden me. I can't compete, it frustrates me, and makes me not want to play even more when dominated and decimated, and the game constantly reminds you of it. Yes, I am a "casual" gamer, but only because I have a real life, real job, real responsibilities, and not that much time anymore to dedicate towards gaming. I also want to enjoy my games. I want to have fun. I don't like the feeling of frustration, bashing my head against a brick wall and getting no where for hours on end, having no idea how to get something done, having to have insane combo button skills to even get an inch past something (Ninja Gaiden), or to have to be as fast as a meth head snorting fat lines of crack playing FPS 20 hours a day and being super perfect at all things or have to be born Asian (Natural +20 to everything).

This is why I enjoy campaign modes, co-op, and even massive team vs team where I can play more of a support role but still able to front line at times. This is why I play Planetside 2 and enjoy it. This is why I love single player mode and/or games that are single player. I love the Halo series because of the rich story and universe it is in and what it brings, not because of the Multiplayer Vs. Mode that it also has.

When I play a game, I want to have fun. I want a challenge that though is difficult, is still fun and rewarding and makes me feel like I achieved something. I like having some puzzle stuff to figure out, I like having to think and figure some things out that doesn't rush you or be impossible to do without being an MLG crack head. I like playing a game that has a rick telling story to it. I like being able to immerse my self into the world and feel like I am a part of it. I like being able to care about the characters and what happens to them and the role I play in their lives. It is this reason why games like Skyrim, Morrowind, Fallout 3, NV, and soon 4 are my fav games. Why i love the Wolfenstein games, Enjoy the hell out of the Assassin's creed series and the Halo series. And why I love classic arcade gaming and Just love the hell out of pinball games. I'm not trying to be some MLG twitch gamer. I'm not trying to be the very best in the world. I couldn't care about leader boards and K/D ratings for comparison (If I can have a K/D of 1 or higher in PS2, then I'm all happy.)

In anycase, I do miss the fun I had with TF2, but I'm not going to try to get back into it with what it has become.